Paddlewheelers and the St. Johns River

If you’ve ever driven over the St. Johns River Bridge on Interstate 4 in Sanford, chances are you have caught a glimpse of the Barbara-Lee, a red and white sternwheeler that has set its course to revive the tradition of the ships that once travelled up and down the river.

History on the River

The St. Johns has been a major waterway for more than 500 years, and lays claim to an abundance of Florida history. It was travelled by the Europeans, the Spanish, and the French, whether it was for exploration or to escape religious persecution. It was used to document the plants and animals living along the river.  After originally travelling the St. Johns with his father in 1765, botanist William Bartram returned to the river in 1774 to take a closer look at life along the St. Johns.  Skip ahead to the 1830s, when the steamboat George Washington became the first to regularly sail the river.  Then, during the Civil War, the river was ruled by the Union Navy. After the war, the river became a tourist destination as well as a freight route. In the late 1800s, 150 steamships operated on the St. Johns River, and according to the St. Johns Rivership website, that was “more than any river south of the Hudson River in New York,” carrying everything from passengers to produce and citrus fruit.

The Barbara-Lee

The Barbara-Lee was built in 1986 and carries on the tradition of sternwheelers that have been sailing along the river for hundreds of years.  She had her inaugural cruise in 2012 and is the only authentic sternwheeler you will see on the St. Johns River.  The 105 foot boat provides a smooth, leisurely trip, allowing riders the opportunity to see the “real” Florida.

We boarded Barbara-Lee for a Saturday dinner cruise and were treated to three hours of a fun Florida experience, from a delicious dinner inside overlooking the massive wooden paddle wheel, to a beautiful sunset from the Captain’s Deck.

The air was cool and the only sound that could be heard was the splashing of the water as the paddle wheel turned. While the evening cruise provided magnificent views of the stars and the lights along the shore in Sanford, you can only imagine what you would see during a daytime cruise.

Operated by St. Johns Rivership Co., Barbara-Lee runs daily lunch cruises from Wednesday through Sunday, along with dinner cruises on Saturday.  There are five decks on the boat, ample room to spread out to enjoy the views and the cruise. Guests are advised to make reservations ahead of time.

If you’re looking for a relaxing way to explore Florida, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it just may be time to chart your course with the Barbara-Lee and enjoy a leisurely tour of one of the state’s historic rivers.